March 6, 2009 at 5:23 pm
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23 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
The Mets sent minor leaguers Fernando Martinez, Jose Coronado, Mike Antonini, Michel Abreu, Tobi Stoner, Adam Bostick and Dillon Gee to minor-league camp.
According to Adam Rubin of the Daily News, Martinez has been limited to just hitting, ‘because of an elbow strain.’
Speaking of prospects, 22–year-old SS Reese Havens was scratched from today’s game with a strained left hamstring.
Also, Angel Pagan has soreness in his right elbow, and did not play today, according to Steve Popper of the Bergen Record.
The Mets (4-4) defeated the Cardinals (4-3-1) by the score of 5-to-4 in Jupiter, Florida.
- Marlon Anderson was 2-for-2, including driving in Jose Valentin for the game-winning run in the ninth inning.
- Speaking of Valentin, he was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, raising his spring average to .375.
- Jon Niese allowed two runs on two hits and two walks, while striking out two.
- Duaner Sanchez pitched another scoreless inning.
- Daniel Murphy was 1-for-5, including a two-run triple.
For post-game quotes from Niese, go to David Lennon’s blog for Newsday.
The Mets continue their Grapefruit League scheduled tomorrow against the Nationals with Dillon Gee getting the start for the Mets. The Game will be broadcast on PIX 11.
The Washington Nationals are impressed with the progress Lastings Milledge has made defensively in center field. He’s taking better routes to the ball, and earning the praise of manager Manny Acta.
“During batting practice, I could see that he is going after balls and doing the extra things he needs to do,” said Acta. “He has the athleticism to be a good center fielder, so I hope he makes improvements.”
Garret Anderson made his Atlanta Braves debut yesterday and went 0-for-2 with a fly out and a pop out. Anderson is happy to be a member of the Braves, and manager Bobby Cox is happy to have him.
“He can hit against anybody, hits lefties, hits righties, with men on base,” Cox said. “If you watch him take [batting practice], it’s just beautiful. His shoulder stays right there. It’s quiet. Not a lot of moving parts.”
A report this week stated that Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins was suffering from a sore back. However, Rollins said he’s fine and wishes everyone would just stop worrying.
Rollins and the Yankees Derek Jeter are sharing time at shortstop for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
And finally, the Florida Marlins are shutting down relief pitcher Scott Proctor for the remainder of the week. Scar tissue is causing discomfort in his throwing elbow.
The Marlins feel their setup man should be back to 100% by the start of the season on April 6th.
For more news, notes, analysis and statistics from around Major League Baseball, be sure to visit Baseball Daily Digest.
The Game:
The Mets (3-4) continue their Grapefruit League schedule against the Cardinals (4-2-1) today at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, starting at 1:05 p.m. EST.
The Lineup:
The Pitchers:
Jon Niese starts for the Mets. Duaner Sanchez, Carlos Muniz, Rocky Cherry, Adam Bostick. Michael Antonini and Heriberto Ruelas are also scheduled to pitch,
Chris Carpenter is scheduled to start for the Cardinals
How To Catch It:
Today’s game will not be broadcast locally. However, you can follow the live boxscore by clicking here.
March 6, 2009 at 11:28 am
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21 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
Update, 12:03 pm:
According to Lennon, Jerry Manuel told reporters Santana will throw live batting practice tomorrow – for more, check out Newsday.
Original Post:
Mets 22-year-old infield prospect Reese Havens will start at shortstop and bat ninth today for the Mets in Jupiter.
To learn more about Havens, check out Steve Popper’s blog for the Bergen Record.
Jon Niese will be today’s starting pitcher, and will be followed by Rocky Cherry, Duaner Sanchez and Carlos Muniz, among others.
David Lennon of Newsday points out that Johan Santana’s name no longer appears with the other pitchers on the clubhouse bulletin board, “which has the schedule mapped out through the 10th.”
…dave, you’re freaking me out, man… seriously…
“Tom Martin will be sidelined for at least a week,” explains Adam Rubin on his blog for the Daily News.
Rubin also reports on the future of Dillon Gee, Tobi Stoner and Mike Antonini.
…if martin loses ground, Ron Villone could step in… i still feel like, based on a hunch, that Tim Redding will end up as the fifth starter, while villone slots in as a left-handed reliever and long man, while Livan Hernandez stays back in extended spring training…
According to Amazin Avenue, ‘clutch hitting exists,’ 
in the form of a walk-off home run or game-tying single in the bottom of the ninth, and Carlos Beltran and David Wright are valuable in both situations.
…i was looking back on some posts from MetsBlog towards the end of last season, and it occurred to me that the biggest propagator of the Wright-is-Unclutch Myth may actually be wright…
…even in games when he does well, or gets a big hit, he seems incapable of not telling reporters about the runs he and his teammates were unable to drive in… and, while reporters and fans appreciate his work ethic and honestly, he is characterizing himself as a failure, even when he succeeds… then, talk-radio jumps on, emotional fans jump on, and, before you know it, despite having the most RBI of his career, including a ton of big hits, suddenly, wright is being called D-Rod and un-clutch…
Meanwhile, the young Matt Tracy, from MattTracy.com, was the Mets bat boy during his trip to St. Lucie, which he details on his blog.
Blogger Murray Chass, of MurrayChass.com, is confused, 
and can’t understand why the New York Times would not let him publish a back-acne based, leap-in-logic accusation that Mike Piazza did steroids.
…look, i’m not saying piazza didn’t do steroids… who knows… however, if the Times let chass use a flimsy, irrational If A Equals B and B Equals C then A Must Equal C logic, then we as citizens would all be screwed…
…hey, how about the Times runs this story: Chass loses World Series for Yankees … you know, because chass covered the Yankees in 1970, the Yankees didn’t win in 1970, so obviously he is why the Yankees didn’t win in 1970… i look forward to reading that ground-breaking story…
For more on Chass, be sure to read Duke’s post on the Nooner Blog.
March 6, 2009 at 9:21 am
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58 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
Free-agent C Pudge Rodriguez told the Associated Press yesterday that he and his agent have talked specifically about the Astros and Marlins, while acknowledging he has only heard rumors connecting him to the Mets.
Rodriguez, regarding the Mets, specifically, is quoted as saying:
“I think that’s a great fit, that team, having me there. Working with a young pitching staff, that could be great for the team. Hopefully the Mets can do whatever they need to do to have a spot for me. That would be a great place to be. If it happens, I’ll be happy.”
Yesterday, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com said Rodriguez is looking for a major-league job that will allow him to catch at least five days per week.
However, Rodriguez told the Associated Press he is willing to accept any role, as long as it is on a guaranteed contract.
Rosenthal believes the Mets are intrigued by Rodriguez, but would be unwilling to name him their starting catcher.
March 6, 2009 at 9:09 am
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7 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
Ryan Church was a late scratch from yesterday’s game against Italy, because, according to Steve Popper of the Bergen Record, “Church was hobbling around the clubhouse all morning with an ice pack attached to his right knee.”
In the Daily News, Adam Rubin explains, Church fouled a ball off his knee earlier in the week, but now says he is ‘fine.’
Nevertheless, Church will not travel to Jupiter for today’s game.
March 6, 2009 at 8:51 am
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37 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
In yesterday’s win against Italy, John Maine walked the first three batters of the game, allowed two hits in the second inning, but did not allow a run against 10 hitter in two innings of work.
Maine later told reporters that while his shoulder feels fine, he had trouble controlling his fastball during the game, noting his mechanics are still a bit rusty.
“I just don’t feel good out there,” Maine said. “My arm is feeling stronger every day, and that’s the only thing I’m worried about. It’s a mechanics thing. I’m thinking way too much, and it’s frustrating.”
…maine is his own worst critic… which is not to belittle what he is saying here, but it’s March 6, he’s only throwing two innings at a time, and he’s still looking for a groove following shoulder surgery… he’ll be fine, i am sure… i think it’s unrealistic to expect him to immediately bounce back as though nothing happened… like with any starting pitcher, the time for panic is when they begin pitching four, five and six innings, which typically happens towards the last week or so of camp…
To read more quotes from Maine, go to Bart Hubbuch’s blog for the New York Post, as well as Ben Shpigel’s blog for the New York Post.
March 6, 2009 at 8:33 am
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30 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
Tickets for the two exhibition games against the Red Sox at Citi Field will go on sale TODAY, March 6, at 10:00 a.m.
The games will be played on Friday, April 3 at 6:10 p.m. and Saturday, April 4 at 1:10 p.m., respectively, prior to the Mets regular-season home opener on April 13.
For information, go to Mets.com, or call 718.507.TIXX.
